Brother Edward's "Special Project" Revealed!

I'd like to take a minute and finally reveal to you all why I've been absent here for so long, and why the website has gone so long without 40K updates.. It isn't due to lack of interest, it is that I'm busily pursuing the interests of our Chapter through my infamous 'special project'. I decided long ago to keep the details of said project secret as talk is cheap, but I feel that I've made sufficient progress to share an inside glimpse of things to come with you my battle brothers - a perk for you all for your devotion to our Chapter!

It's hard now to recall excatly how it all fell together really, this project has been in the works now honestly since late 2003 - and each year it has gained a bit more momentum. I'll try to hit the highlights...

In 2003 I decided it would be cool to make a realistic looking Space Marine helmet as a decoration for my gameroom... then in the process of figuring out how to do that I figured out that if I could make a helmet it shouldn't be too difficult to make a full set of power armor (ha! such optimism! lol). Well in the process of figuring out the power armor the topic arose of 'When this is done, where will I stand for the photos?'... I know it sounds like a trivial thing, but it tasked me for a bit, until we found the greenscreen software Chromanator
So we then made a greenscreen...

 

and I know some of you know about the first bolter

I'm now in the process of making a new master of this, so we can make molds - and then make more for filming  =)

so then you mix a bolter with a greenscreen and some special effects and you get this little clip of me firing a bolter... (heads up this is a 3.6 meg file)
Edward Firing Bolter

yeah I know the file could be smaller, my graphics optimizer guy isn't here at the moment!

Anywho. That background by the way is about two inches tall... but I knew we could do better so over the last year I've been learning 3d graphics with an awesome program called Cinema 4D.

Here is a peek at an Imperial Cruiser that I made entirely myself, it and the planet are both 3d models shown as rendered - no 'post' effects added. We'll begin making animations of movement and battles this summer :) click this image for a much bigger image...

 

Now that earth model behind the cruiser is one that I bought, but no worries - I've got other programs that let me create very believable worlds from scratch and fully capable of animation - here's a peek from such a world (from altitude) of a landmass where I have plans to make a mechanicus research facility...

What about the power armor you ask? Glad you brought it up :)

This whole process had a gazillion steps so I'll boil it down to the end result... After making full size models of all the armor shapes I then made molds of each...

right now I'm in the process of making foam casts from these molds...

Once hollowed out and sanded to final fit of the wearer each piece of armor will have a polyurethane outer hardshell sprayed all over - creating an extremely durable but lightweight armor piece. I've got the materials on hand, and I've got the equipment on hand.

So - later this summer/fall I have every expectation of sharing with you all the first moving images of completely realistic power armor costumes, with purpose made 3d greenscreen backgrounds and special effects (bolters firing & sound). Oh yes, I forgot sound... we've got some sweet sound software.... and background music software which completely rocks...

And we've got a professional makeup person... have a look at the makeup of a slashed arm that we did the other day....
(warning this is a shockingly realistic makeup photo of a serious arm wound)
makeup photo of severely cut forearm
 

So.. all of this is why I've been away from the forum so long my brothers, and from updating the website with 40K content. I'm actually making it all come to life - literally. I've got the support of family and friends and a dedication to having nothing short of perfection - no bad acting - no low quality sound. It has taken time and it will take more time yet - but I wanted you to know that despite my absence from these forums I'm ever devoted to our Chapter.

Looking forward to sharing more with you all in the months to come.

Glory to the Emperor and Sanguinius! ~ Brother Edward

PS. and yes, the Imperial Navy Cruiser model has its own role in things - my Space Marines will be cruising around in their very own Astartes Strike Cruiser - but you'll have to wait a bit to see that ;)